Who We Are

Yukiko and I enjoying the sakura in Washington, DC (2008)

SPRING for JAPAN began as an outlet of hope and support between two dear friends who felt helpless following the March 11, 2011 devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan.  Yukiko Inoue, who was my roommate and fellow grad school classmate at American University several years back, was in Tokyo when the earthquake struck.  I was in Washington, DC. We soon contacted each other and began brainstorming ideas of how we could help.  From this, SPRING for JAPAN developed in to the form of this blog, a fundraising page on Mercy Corps website, and an event that was held in Washington, DC to raise money for Japan relief. 

Yukiko said it best when she said, "The amazing thing about this blog is that you and I are organizing this together. Meaning, an American living in DC truly praying for Japan, and a Japanese living in Tokyo looking for something to do. Despite long distance, we realize this together."

We both feel that support can come in a number of ways and therefore the point of this blog is three fold:

(1) To provide a space for those on the ground in Japan to be heard and to voice their stories, thoughts and concerns about what is happening. If anyone in Japan would like to be an author on this blog, please email springforjapan@gmail.com and tell us a little bit about yourself and how you would like to contribute to SPRING for JAPAN.  Comments to blog posts about your own stories or thoughts are always welcome.

(2)  To provide a space for those who wish to send supporting messages to the people of Japan. Please leave comments to send your support to those in Japan. The more comments of support, care, and concern our friends in Japan can read, the easier it is for them to pull through these trying times.

(3)  To help raise money for Mercy Corps' Help Survivors of Japan's Earthquake fund.  Our goal is to raise $10,000. All the funds raised are going to the non-profit organization Mercy Corps who is working with their longstanding partner, Peace Winds, to help families affected by the disaster in Japan. Your donations will be used to meet immediate and longer-term needs of earthquake survivors.


- Shanti Shoji